Edward



(No Model.)

B. O. 0-. 0RD. FRONT SIGHT IN SMALL ARMS.

No. 472,069. Patented Apr. 5, 1892.

is uonms ravens m. morn-mm" msmmron n c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD O. O. 0RD, OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY.

FRONT SIGHT IN SMALL-ARMS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 472,069, dated April 5, 1892.

Application filed April 3, 1891. Serial No. 387,824. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD O. 0. ()RD, a lieutenant in the United States Army, Company B, Twenty-second Infantry, stationed at present at Fort Keogh, in Custer county, in the State of Montana, have invented certain new and Useful Improvements in Front Sights for Small-Arms, of which the following is a specification.

I have devised an improvement upon front sights for pistols or other small-arms by graduating the front sight with grooves, notches, or projections, so that through or along any one of these channels on the front sightthe line of sight coming through the rear sight may be made topass to the object in aiming. The point-blank range being sighted over the top of the front sight, the act of sighting through any channel lower than the top of the front sight will elevate the muzzle of the weapon, cause the line of fire to pass higher above the line of sight as each successive notch or channel below is used to sight through, and increase the range to which a fire-arm is sighted above the point blank. Each particular groove used in aiming with my invention elevates the line of fire an exact number of degrees above the line of sight and fixes the flight of the projectile to a certain distant point in the plane of the line of sight, and the distance from the muzzle of the fire-arm to that distant point is the range for that particular groove on the front sight of that firearm with that charge of explosive and projectile.

My improvement upon front sights forsmallarms is more especially adapted for use with the pistol or revolver on which no graduated rear sights have been provided. It. may, however, be used upon either pistol, rifle, or other small-arm provided with graduated rearsights, and in combination with the graduations of the rear sights, if desired.

The accompanying drawings form part of this specification and represent what I consider the best means of carrying out the invention.

Figure 1 is a general perspective view show-- ing the front sight as improved by my invention on the muzzle of the barrel of a fire-arm. Fig. 2 showsin elevation various forms of grooves or channels in the sight, said grooves or channels being located on one or both sides; Figs. 3 and 4, detail views showing globes or projectiOnS on the sight by means of which the sight-grooves are made.

Similarletters represent corresponding parts The front sight A may be of any of the various forms and constructions commonly in use.

By means of projections a in Fig. 1, orsimply indentations, as in Fig. 2, are formed the grooves a of the front sight. These grooves a are the channels along or through which the line of sight is made to pass in aiming at an object. These grooves appear to the eye when projected horizontally on a vertical plane as small notches on the side of the front sight, as shown in Fig. 2, and, as there shown, may be made to appear indifferent shapes, in accordance with the shapes given the channels.

Small points or globes or projections b may be placed on the side of the front sight, preferably the right side, or on both sides of a front sight, for the purposes of the invention, substantially forming channels through which the line of sight shall be or may be made to pass in aiming, and is a modified form of the invention, of which Fig. 3 is an illustration, the sight projected being an ordinary globesight, with several smaller globes or disks 1) arranged on the vertical portion of the sight below the top globe o The. channels between these disks, through which the line of sight may be made to pass when aiming, are indicated by the letters a a, a a. Cylindrical pieces of metal or other suitable material laid horizontally upon the sides of a front sight will form a similar projection upon the retina ofthe eye as that shown in Fig. 4, and is a modified form of my invention and may be used in a similar manner to the sight shown in Fig. 2. As thus constructed, the sight is adapted for any sort of fire-arm. The notches being on one or both sides of the front sight, there will be no difficulty in fixing on this sight what the elevation of the line of fire above the line of sight will be in different ranges of fire. Thus the shooter may at a glance select the best-suited aim for the distance to be fired over from the front sight.

The material of which front sights are made is usually some metal; but any other suitable material will answer for use in the construction of my invention. Preferably the sight is of a generally triangular shape. It is placed on its base in line with the barrel of the gun. Thus the length of the channel or groove in the side or sides would increase from top to the bottom. At the same time a strong union with the barrel is made and a better finish.

This invention of mine may be applied to any of the front sights now in use by filing out channels upon them or forming them by placing solid projecting pieces on the sights used at the muzzle of small-arms, commonly known as front sights.

Further modification may be made without departing from the principle or sacrificing the advantages of the invention.

While no rear sight is shown in the drawings, it will be obvious to all skilled in the art how this front sight can be used in connection with any of the usual style or make of the purposes set forth.

3. The gun-sight A, of generally triangular shape, having side channels or grooves a formed in the manner and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at Fort Keogh, county of Custer, in theState of Montana, this 23d day of February, 1891, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDl/VARD O. C. 0RD.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. WILLS, E. B. FRIOK. 

